NDIA Accountability Project

Concerns about impact on supports for person with Autism and ADHD

‹ PrevPage 1 of 2 · Source p. 1Next ›

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

Submission 93

Dear Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee,

I am writing to express my serious concerns about the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024. As a person with an official Autism and ADHD diagnosis, I believe this Bill could have a detrimental impact on the lives of people with disability and undermine the original intent of the NDIS.

The NDIS is an important support structure in my life. NDIS taught me necessary life skills including how to cook, keep on top of house cleaning and engage with the community. My support worker plays a critical role with keeping on top of my responsibilities are organisational abilities. NDIS is the reason I was able to return to the workforce and an important resource for self advocacy. It lessens the burdens of my loved ones and has made me able to grow my sense of self. Having my NDIS supports compromised would be a serious disruption to my well being and negatively effect my mental wellbeing.

I am particularly worried about the following aspects of the Bill:

  • The shift from ‘reasonable and necessary supports’ to ‘reasonable and necessary budgets’. I fear this change could lead to arbitrary limits on the supports people can access, rather than focusing on what each individual actually needs to live a dignified life.

  • The tighter definition of what supports the NDIS will fund. I am concerned this definition is too narrow and could exclude vital supports that people with disability rely on to participate in the community and pursue their goals.

  • The increased powers for the NDIA to require people to undergo assessments or provide information, with the threat

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

Submission 93

  • This fails to recognise the many barriers people with disability can face in engaging with bureaucratic processes, especially if they are experiencing a crisis or have complex needs.

  • The provisions that allow the NDIA to prevent a person from self-managing their funding if they have made mistakes in the past. This seems to go against the principle of choice and control that is central to the NDIS.

Overall, I am deeply worried that this Bill represents a shift away from the original vision of the NDIS - to give people with disability choice and control over the supports they need to live an ordinary life. It seems more focused on cutting costs than on improving outcomes for people with disability.

I strongly urge the Committee to recommend significant changes to this Bill. At a minimum, there must be thorough consultation with people with disability and our representative organisations to ensure any reforms genuinely meet the needs of the people the NDIS is intended to support.

The NDIS is too important to get wrong. We must take the time to get this right, with people with disability at the centre of the process.

Thank you for considering my submission. I would be happy to provide further information to the Committee if required.

Yours sincerely, Andrew Potter